The world title match in Moscow began with six turgid draws, followed by a win for the challenger Boris Gelfand over a listless Vishy Anand. Then, presto! The Indian won game eight in 17 moves, the shortest victory (excluding defaults) in championship history, breaking a 19-move record which had stood since 1886.

The current score is 5-5 with only two games left before speed chess tie-breaks, so today's 11th game, which starts at midday, live and free for internet viewers at moscow2012 fide, is a must-watch occasion. There is move-by-move grandmaster and computer commentary.

Anand had pressed in game three with 3 f3 d5, hence Gelfand's decision to vary by 3...c5. Anand's 7 Nec3 was clever, since the usual Nc3/Ng3 knight set-up in such positions allows Black a speedy h5-h4.

Gelfand's Nh5 (e6 was safer) enticed 8 g4 Nf6 when White's king is a target. But Anand's judgment was better, even though his king was forced to move, as White can attack fast in the decisive position after the retreat 14...Nf6. Instead Gelfand's 14...Qf6? blunder led to the puzzle diagram below and Anand's winner.

It was a good answer by the Indian to the all-time No1 Garry Kasparov, who during the phoney war draw sequence at the start of the match claimed that Anand's form was "sliding downhill", that the champion had lost motivation, and that he was avoiding the sharp tactical battles of his previous title defences.

3255 17 Qf2! with the threat 18 Bd3 winning the queen. Gelfand and the GMs looked only at 17 Qf4 when Black has Qg1. After 17 Qf2 Black's only move is 17...Nc6 (to meet 18 Bd3 by Nd4+) but after 18 dxc6 Qxc6 19 Bg2 with Nd5 White is materially up with a strong attack, so Gelfand decided to resign.